Crashing Shores

The smell of smoke in the desert land.

The smell of blood heavy in the air.

Their swinging bodies, swaying in the hot wind.

"I am your family now, Kaya."

The black wolf looked to the child's back with saddened eyes.

…

"You will join them?" Hytham said, looking at Kaya pack a sack. Her focus was on her belongings, listening to the worried tone in his voice. She has struggled within herself to go through with the plan to join the raids. Though she was not fond of the idea to storm a monastery, such sacred places house goods that could be of use. Riches from villagers in order to pay for their salvation. Why was it so hard for her to understand that these villagers only did such brutality to survive?

Kaya did not agree to this, but she was moving without a conscience thought. She could not understand why her conscience was being ruthless to her mind. Maybe it was the fact that she wanted to see this from another perspective. To see what it would feel like from the side that places fear. But, she knew that these people did not do so on purpose. Not like those who raided her village so long ago. Survival was instinct, but it always came at a cost.

How could she pass judgment when her own hands were stained with blood? The Hidden Ones never participated in such things and only sought targets within their high towers; behind doors that held their riches. Kaya was battling between what she knew to be right and what was morally right. Could she bare to watch as people's livelihood gets taken away? What would happen to them? She knew that there would be those fighting back. It all seemed so barbarous.

If you join them, you will become like those who killed your parents. Leaving a poor child to become an orphan, like you. The battle within her was raging. Was she worse then those who had left a permanent scar upon his memory? Where she could hear the sound of her people screaming, dying, fighting as hard as they could against the raiders. Slaughtered like animals without reason. They were like mindless killing things. Kaya could never forgive nor forget.

"Should you join them on the raid, Kaya. Think of what it would do to you. I know that you do not talk much about what happened that day, but it could bring up the harmful memory." Hytham knew of what occurred. The young girl with soulless eyes, walking hand-in-hand with Mentor Ishmael, Hytham was told to be by Kaya's side.

"This is different from what we know. I do not want to have to see my friend being struck down when I know you could move out of the way of a blade." Hytham held back his concerns against the matter. Though he knew that Kaya would make it out alive, possibly without spilling blood. They were after the treasures within the monasteries. Where those with faith bring their riches and valuables to God. For salvation and their souls. .

To the villagers of Raventhorpe, it was a way of life. Precious goods were for the taking. To build a new life for their future. It seemed so hard to tell who was in the right of it all. There would be resistance. They would be branded. Then, there will be blood. Kaya could not teach them to not harm the innocent, but when a weapon is drawn on them, they act. What a web you weave.

"Should I choose not too?" Kaya threw the sack over her shoulder. She was unsure herself about this. They were already targets to the outside world. This was their life. This was their training. Kaya sacrificed her finger to carry the blade. Why was she struggling with this thought? This was not her fight! These raids. The way they lived their life. Their belief was much different from her view, and yet, Kaya felt as if she was willing to join them to make peace with the fact she had grown to tolerate these villagers.

"The longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we become. It would not be the first time I have seen such an act, Hytham. Whether I storm the land or fall behind is my choice. Should I see them kill an innocent, I will strike my blade on them." Kaya said. She could hear the echo of Sigurd within her mind. Lend us your blade, echoed in her mind.

"We are here for a reason." The more she said this, the more it felt like a lie.

The more she was exposed, their enemies would seek them. Kaya was backed into a corner to choose being a mentor and hiding in the shadows. She needed to grow and learn. To be someone Mentor Ishmael could be proud of. To show her enemies that she was just as strong as the Viking she journeyed and mentored with, it could show them that Kaya was just as capable.

"And they will do the same to you. You should choose to stay behind while they find resources for their own. We are here to guide, not destroy. This is not you, Kaya. You have just recovered and you want to push yourself? It would do you no good to have to fight, knowing you could run a fever again." Hytham struggled to see the conscious within Kaya. Yes, the village needed to be rebuilt. Yes, the village needed to prosper. Without proper funding and supplies, the people would not make it to their first winter in England without having already succumbed to the isolation. If they did not raid, how could they make a permanent stay?

Hytham could see that she was gaining back her color in her face. Her eyes still looked worn from the lack of sleep. Her wound healing, but the scar will remain. There was no convincing her to stay back. There was no shame in not participating. Kaya was already a fighter, a warrior, in her own right. Recognized by their creed, but Hytham could see that Kaya was trying to be in the set of a mentor. Teaching one who needed to be corrected.

Never hurt an innocent.

"I am fine, Hytham. I have already struggled with these thoughts. If only there was a peaceful way of doing this. We cannot convince them, even if there was a peaceful way, the other side would force their hand. We only watch. We teach. We also learn. I must do my part in teaching." She stood before her longest friend. Seeing how the shy and clumsy boy turned into a man who stood before her. Their childhood together filled with good and bad times; training long hours in the day until they were tired and bruised. Kaya looked Hytham straight in the eyes, seeing her reflection inside.

"Then why must you fight? You know our purpose here. To have them learn. For them too see. Your guidance is what is needed." Hytham placed his hands on her shoulders. Gripping her robe and letting go. He quickly placed his hands back at his side, looking away for a moment. He knew that he should not harbor these intentions, knowing Kaya was promised to another. Anger. Resentment. Why did the Hidden Ones not see him as a potential marriage partner?

"I fear that I will be guided by their influence. Should our cultures and traditions become one with them?" Kaya sighed heavily and chuckled. She knew he was worried for her. After having her fever and dreaming about disturbing things, her mind seemed to always be lead back by Hytham. She placed the sack on the ground and pulled Hytham in close for an embrace. No other was more worried of her health more then the man in front of her. Mentor Ishmael was a cold and stoic man, but meant well. He cared for Kaya in his own way like that of Basim.

The Hidden Ones only saw her growth as a means to an end. Climbing the ranks high and higher. But no one saw the human, the woman, that Kaya had become. If only she could choose her potential partner in life. Such is the way of the world to linger in such thoughts.

"Money and supplies. How are wars fought? How are they won? We were taught such things as children. Not like this, where it seems that our teachings are thrown in the river to be eaten by fish. We are different from them. They know we are different." Kaya felt his arms around her. The young woman never took initiative to take the first step. She was always an arms length, but when she was vulnerable, she showed it to only one person.

"I would be better before I raise my blade. They will not act like those who took everything from me. I will see to it." Kaya said. Being taught since young, that the world was dangerous. There was corruption. There was pain and suffering. They also said that there was also good. What they were doing was for all of humanity. Only the Order was trying to take that from humanity.

Mentor Ishmael, I pray you make them bleed. It has been sometime since the last message came. Was he successful in truly tracking them down? Was Mentor Ishmael safe?

"What we are taught and have learned would decide the tides." Kaya lightly smiled at Hytham.

Hytham felt grateful to always see this side of her. Even if she showed the stubborn side. He liked Kaya and that was a secret that he had to wallow in. Basim had already scolded him many times, but for Kaya, Hytham would further endure. She pulled him closer to her. To find comfort in her troubled mind. Where the wolves howl at the mountain and the haggle red voice of a woman spoke from the depths below the ground.

She walked along the dock, seeing the large longboat floating calmly along the river. Eivor stood at the edge, making preparations for what was to occur. There was little supplies and many of his warriors did not have proper weapons, but it would suffice until more weapons could be made. Once the village prospers, his people would be at peace. Maybe even his heart would steady itself from its wolf nature. Somehow, Kaya knew that even a wolf could not stray from its home.

The calm days would soon be over. Like a storm in the horizon, it would come fast.

He heard the sound of light footsteps behind him, turning to see Kaya looking at the horizon. The flaps of her robe fluttering with the wind, making her look calm before the kill. He could not get the image of her blur amongst the fight. So skilled in the hunt of an hawk. Slashing down her enemies, not blinking. Kaya was truly a skilled master of her craft against men with light armor. Eivor wondered if she could be strong enough to go against one of his own.

Surely, she could use her speed and lethal eyes. He wants to observe how she kills stealthy. The Hidden Ones were becoming interesting each time Eivor thought about Kaya's fighting.

"You have decided to join us after all." Eivor said, watching as the young woman walk along the dock. The only noticeable protection was her sword sheathed along her belt. For a while now, he noticed that Kaya, Hytham, and Basim wore little armor. No wonder they could be dangerous and silent when they are close to their opponents.

Kaya stopped in front of Eivor. Her short stature overshadowed by the man's large build. "I have seen the brutality of men. I have stopped a tyrant before he could rage war amongst innocents. If I see harm among the weak, I will not hesitate to strike you down."

She was standing beside her belief. If they were to harm, she would die trying to protect. The unrest was rising at a fast pace. The shadows will reveal the corruption around them. What they could not see. Those who try to bind them. Kaya knew that sooner or later, one of them would appear. The Order has been hiding their ugly head.

"Do you truly think of us as tyrants?" Eivor could not help but feel a little disappointed in Kaya for having thoughts of his people. Kaya could see the look of hurt within the burly man. Her memories of her childhood have clouded her words as they left her mouth. She did not see Eivor or his people like those corrupt people of her past. If one were to choose to raise their blade in such a manner, she would go against his people because of their nature.

"No. Forgive me for making you think that I see you in such a light. Raids are how I have lost my parents and my home. Those men were not dressed like you, but they were strong and had weapons that destroyed. I do not want to have to see others go through what I have been through." Kaya said.

"Then, you and I are alike. Our homes destroyed and our parents loss to such. No wonder we see eye to eye." Eivor said, chuckling a little at the thought of sharing the same similarities with each other.

"Eye to eye in disagreement." Kaya lightly shoved Eivor aside to make way to the boat. He mind wandering to the river that would be the doom of unlucky souls. These men and women would send terror through bones. Kaya would be the shadow of order if something were to go not planned.

I am better then those who have taken my home.

"So, the desert sand is going to raid with us. Better bring a shield and a stronger sword." Kaya's eye twitched in annoyance upon hearing Dag's voice from the longboat. Eivor laughed as he smacked Kaya's shoulder hard with his large hand.

I should have stayed back.

The sound of the horn was the calm before the storm. The rumbling sent a low vibration through her bones. Watching as they moved out of the boat, landing into the waters. Axes, bows, shields in hand with men and women dressed in fur and armor, stroking the land. Like locust out for the fill of crops from farmers who were defenseless.

The grinning and excited smiles of the Norsemen, itching to show their strength against the Saxons. What was expected to be nothing more then monks and priests in the monastery grounds were nothing more then a disguise against raiders such as them.

Kaya kept in the back to observe and make sure that no innocent would feel the cold iron of a blade. Men of faith did not raise the sword. They were to be left in peace. They only needed to surrender their treasures. But, Kaya knew that men of faith would see it as God's test. Men like them believed in such things.

Running up the hill where the village echoed in the bells of the church, Kaya watched as men in brown robes running away. Scared that they will be tortured or bound to the ground. Kaya moved out of the way of a priest. His lips mumbling to God. Danger was just down the hill, but resistance was like a force to be reckoned with. Crosses made of wood indicated the belief of the villagers. Today, their God would forsake them.

The Norsemen left the monks and priest along. Laughing at their cowardice from running away from a fight.

Kaya jumped over the stone wall, seeing at the opening of the roadway, armed men at the ready. Eivor had his bow ready at hand and an arrow left his bow fast and quick. Landing at the side of a man's neck. Blood gushing out from the wound as the man screamed in a gurgled cry. The others began their assault upon the armed men that stood between them and survival.

"Kill them! They are after the monasteries treasures! It belongs to God!" One Saxon yelled. The onslaught happened fast, that it all seemed to blur.

Kaya observed the fight at a distance. Watching as the Saxons were being thrown about. Eivor was seen kicking down a heavily armed Saxon. Like with the bow, Eivor was skilled with the axe.

"Over there! By the stone wall!" One of the guard men shouted to his comrades.

Kaya cursed as she prepared for the onslaught. Large swords were coming her way. With her feet in place, Kaya moved fast towards her first target. The screaming of men being gutted like slaughtered pigs echoed in the air. The smell of smoke and fire blazing into the sky. Kaya struck her curved sword against on the men that were coming at her.

His bearded face seethed in anger and anticipation when he saw that his opponent was a small woman. The sword in his hand would be no match for his broad sword and shield. Unfortunately, Kaya kicked the man in his knee to make him buckle from the impact. One thrust of her sword to his neck and he was down. Blood coming out quickly, but there was no time to catch one's breath. An arrow came at her, she moved out of the way before it could hit her shoulder.

"The wench is fast!" The archer said.

Kaya gritted her teeth in irritation. She moved fast towards her next opponent. The smell of the smoke in the air filled her nose. It began to sting her eyes as embers floated fast. It would seem that Eivor's warriors were brutal in their tactics. They set flame to homes with straw for roofs and anything easy to lite a-flame.

"To Hell shall you burn!" The archer placed an arrow in the notch, but Kaya was faster. Her free hand formed a fist and pushed back the man. The archer was gasping for breath, though it was hard to breath when smoke was clouding the bright blue sky above. The croak of a raven signaling death was approaching.

"Demon! Christ shall bring me salvation from your wicked ways!" The archer backed away from Kaya. Fearing her red eyes and curved sword in her hand. The young woman ignored the terror around her. The clashing of swords was heavy. The men and women were screaming for assistance. It was chaotic for Kaya that she imagined her younger self in the place of the archer.

She raised her sword in the air. The archer closed his eyes and prayed. But, there was no pain from death. The curved sword was between his trembling legs. He almost pissed himself from fear.

"Live today. Fight tomorrow." Kaya looked at the discarded bow and smashed it hard with her boot.

AN: It was a hard decision to have Kaya choose to join the raids. She had her worries, her doubts, and the feeling that she would become like the people who raided her home. It's a harsh reality that in order to survive, people have to do things that would make them villains in the eyes of others. Kaya is a person who does things for the Hidden Ones. She is told. She must listen. But as time goes on, she may lose that sense of all she is taught. There is so much going on and I am excited to continue as we dwell deeper into the many mysteries.